New piracy trial: AFACT to appeal iiNet verdict

After two unsuccessful attempts to collar Australia's second largest ISP iiNet for copyright infringement in court, the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) which represents major film companies and the Seven TV network is lodging an appeal in the High Court of Australia. AFACT is alleging that iiNet authorised copyright infringement by users of its service.

The Federal Court has set 2- 5 August 2010 to hear AFACT's appeal against the judgement brought against in its attempt to sue iiNet for breach of copyright over iiNet customers downloads of copyrighted movies.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft, AFACT, which now has just seven days left to file an Appeal with the High Court if it wants to further pursue internet service provider, iiNet, over its allegations of copyright theft, may be interested to learn of a new independent study which suggests that fines and tougher laws are unlikely to stall piracy of films, books, music or software.

The High Court has unanimously dismissed the appeal by film and TV companies against the NSW Federal Court ruling that iiNet did not authorise copyright infringement when its Internet customers downloaded pirated movies.

AFACT has called for legislative change after the High Court unanimously dismissed its appeal against the NSW Federal Court ruling that iiNet did not authorise copyright infringement when its Internet customers downloaded pirated movies.

The High Court has granted 34 film and TV sector companies special right to appeal a February decision from the Federal Court which will see the companies again take on WA based internet service provider iiNet over alleged copyright infringement.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) says it is disappointed at losing the iiTrial and believes the federal government was hoping iiNet would lose.

COMMENT The Australian Federation against Copyright Theft is on the attack again, trying to hose down criticism of figures it released recently about alleged film piracy.

New Zealand Herald: "Several weeks ago the Australian high court ruled in favour of Aussie ISP iiNet in a landmark legal battle where AFACT (Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft) argued that iiNet was as guilty as some of its subscribers of online copyright infringement."